Queer Travel Guide to Covington, Kentucky
Covington, Kentucky was on our list of the 22 Small LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the US to visit and there’s good reason for that.
In 2003, Covington was one of the first cities in Kentucky to pass an LGBTQ anti-discrimination measure called the Fairness Ordinance. In addition, The Human Rights Commission has given the city a perfect Municipal Equality Index (MEI) rating of 100, which is based off such factors as legislation, employment, municipal services, and law enforcement on behalf of the LGBTQ community. It was also recently named as one of the top three destinations in the United States for queer people to retire by Market Watch.
Besides all that, the NKY (Northern Kentucky) Pride Group hosts its annual week-long pride celebration in the city, complete with special events and a parade to mark the occasion. With a pedigree like that we figured it was high time we take a closer look at the city.
The following is our queer guide to Covington comprised of a roundup of queer owned and friendly businesses throughout the city.
Where to Stay
Hotel Covington
The renowned Hotel Covington stands as a testament to high stakes, high fashion and high ambition. You can feel it in all 114 guestrooms, unique restaurants, intimate lounge spaces and outdoor courtyards. With vintage touches and modern tailoring, the Hotel Covington sings in style, character and comfort.
Located just 15 minutes from the airport and surrounded by the finest restaurants and art venues Covington has to offer, this property offers luxury and convenience.
It is also one of the proud host hotels for NKY Pride Week.
Where to Eat
Otto’s
This is the top-rated restaurant in Covington on Tripadviser. Featuring a diversified menu of farm to table American cuisine, customers rave about the brussels sprouts with bacon and onions in addition to their fried green tomatoes and Thai Chili Salmon. The restaurant is usually busy, so reservations are highly encouraged.
Frida 602
If you’re in the mood for exquisite Mexican cuisine Frida 602 has you covered. The restaurant boasts a tequila and mezcal bar with modern Latin street cuisine. Diners seem to enjoy the relaxed, friendly environment and the vegetarian options on the menu.
Lil’s Bagels
Owned by Julia Keister, a proud member of the LGBTQ community, Lil’s Bagels was started out of Julia and her partner’s desperation for a GOOD bagel! Every bagel is hand-rolled, boiled, and baked with tradition, local ingredients, and lots of CHUTZPAH. It’s a can’t miss!
Where to Shop
Grainwell
Grainwell is owned and operated by sisters and based in Covington. The Grainwell team designs and creates wood-centric, one-of-a-kind products from quality material. They pride themselves and their team on creating products that celebrate the authenticity of the material. They’re inspired by the opportunity to bring a memory into a tangible product to treasure for years to come. From modern home decor to customized statement pieces, they strive to continue to create products that tell a story.
Handzy
Owned by best friends Suzy and Brittney, these entrepreneurs are living out their small business dream by curating this colorful shop. The business reflects the values of friendship, joy and celebrating life through creative expression. Their aim is to spark your personal creativity with their bold selection of clothing, accessories, desk supplies, greeting cards and more.
Places to Go
Creative House of Art & Design – CHAD
This LGBT-owned business offers a wide range of creative services.
In addition to paint parties and specialized workshops, CHAD offers multiple creative and engaging classes for all ages and skill sets to bring out the artist from within. Chad Turner, aka Mr. Chad, has been teaching Art classes for over a decade in over 7 different schools and homes in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area.
You can also purchase one-of-a-kind art pieces here from their laser cut wall of products.
New Riff
Located just a mile away from Covington in nearby Newport, you will find New Riff, an independently owned distillery that produces bourbon, rye and Kentucky Wild Gin. In 2014, founder Ken Lewis, a visionary Kentucky liquor retailer and entrepreneur, saw a need for a new riff on an old tradition when it came to Kentucky bourbon. The modern venue hosts a variety of events and offers an on-site bar, The Aquifer.
New Riff celebrates the diversity of its staff and consumers through a range of initiatives including its staff Diversity & Inclusion Group, participating in local Pride events, special bottlings, and charitable endeavors.
New Riff’s bourbon and rye are made with traditional sour mash methods and bottled-in-bond without chill filtration. Bourbon and rye are also available in single barrel selections, and the distillery boasts a popular private barrel selection program.
Nightlife
Bar 32
This is a fun, low key neighborhood gay bar where you can come to sample some of the staff’s creative cocktails such as the local favorite “Bong Water”. It is right in the heart of the arts district, so after perusing the sites this is a great place to relax and unwind.
Rosie’s Tavern
The owners of Rosie’s Tavern wanted to open a bar that was accepting of everyone. Their team is dedicated to providing a safe place where customers can come in for a variety of great drinks and a fun time. When you stop by, you’ll quickly see why they’re known as the friendliest bar in town. The clientele is mostly queer here, but you can expect to share the space with lots of enthusiastic allies.
The Cellar
Located in Mainstrasse Village, The Cellar is a fun and popular nightclub providing some of the city’s best entertainment seven nights a week. They feature a multitude of events including drag shows and karaoke nights. While mainly queer, this establishment is welcoming to anyone who wants to have a good time!
For more information head on over to the Northern Kentucky Visitor and Convention Bureau, also known as MeetNKY.
